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-   -   Turn-By-Turn walking directions w/o data [Android]? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/turn-by-turn-walking-directions-w-o-data-android-1709101/)

blessuptraveler Jul 20th, 2022 04:06 AM

Turn-By-Turn walking directions w/o data [Android]?
 
Has anyone found an Android app that can give turn-by-turn walking directions? Google Maps cannot, I just checked. It can do offline driving turn-by-turn, but that's different than walking instructions in a lot of places. In order to get it to do walking instructions, you need to turn on data temporarily, and while my intent is to get a simcard, I may not have it right away and would like the peace of mind to be able to navigate til I get one.



If anyone has suggestions about this and has tested it in Europe (specifically Portugal) recently, please let me know!

nylilly Jul 20th, 2022 06:39 AM

Take a look at Maps.me. I use it on an iPhone, but imagine there’s a version that would work for you. The trick is, though, that you must download the maps first, while you have service. I’ve used it multiple countries with success.

menachem Jul 20th, 2022 06:52 AM


Originally Posted by blessuptraveler (Post 17383202)
Has anyone found an Android app that can give turn-by-turn walking directions? Google Maps cannot, I just checked. It can do offline driving turn-by-turn, but that's different than walking instructions in a lot of places. In order to get it to do walking instructions, you need to turn on data temporarily, and while my intent is to get a simcard, I may not have it right away and would like the peace of mind to be able to navigate til I get one.



If anyone has suggestions about this and has tested it in Europe (specifically Portugal) recently, please let me know!

ridewithgps

hetismij2 Jul 20th, 2022 07:58 AM


Originally Posted by nylilly (Post 17383232)
Take a look at Maps.me. I use it on an iPhone, but imagine there’s a version that would work for you. The trick is, though, that you must download the maps first, while you have service. I’ve used it multiple countries with success.

It recently got an "upgrade" on Android and now gets terrible reviews.
There are plenty of apps in the playstore, I would suggest trying some before you leave home and find one you are happy with.
A real map is always a useful thing to have with you in any case.

Melnq8 Jul 20th, 2022 09:01 AM

Google maps was pretty worthless in Portugal.

mlgb Jul 20th, 2022 10:13 AM

I do download Google Maps. Even without data on, your phone has GPS so you can see where you are, but you cannot get turn by turn, you have to visually read the map.

I do have an Android, not an iPhone.

For Lisbon, I had downloaded a Rick Steves Audio Tour podcast which came with a physical map that I could also see as I listened to his turn by turn directions.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-rea...al-audio-tours

Peter_S_Aus Jul 21st, 2022 04:35 AM

Try paper, dear Henry, dear Henry.
Works a treat.

blessuptraveler Jul 21st, 2022 04:45 AM

Thank you all, I appreciate the suggestions. In the meantime I've found that the following solutions are very popular:

> Magic Earth - works off of OpenStreetMap data. Works for this type of navigation, and apparently does pretty well at estimating ETA.

> Organic Maps - this is a FOSS forked version of Maps.Me, which apparently was a long-time crowd favorite. Italso uses OpenStreetMap, but comes up with slightly different calculations than Magic Earth.

> MapFactor - seems like another possible solution that handles this type of navigation pretty well

I think I'm going to take a glance at ridewithgps as well, and have a physical map to fall back on. Good reminder about Rick Steves as well - I forgot I needed to grab that.

lavandula Jul 22nd, 2022 01:10 AM

Wondering if an app like Waze is any good for walking? Works well in the car and I think it's international.

Lavandula

mlgb Jul 22nd, 2022 07:26 AM


Originally Posted by lavandula (Post 17383709)
Wondering if an app like Waze is any good for walking? Works well in the car and I think it's international.

Lavandula

I don't use Waze but I think you need data. The download ability is there, apparently, but it looks pretty complicated.

https://mygpstools.com/waze-gps-navi...e-offline-maps

joan Jul 23rd, 2022 10:09 AM

I also do what mlgb does, download the street map ahead of time, and then follow it visually. If there are lots of turns, you can sit with a notepad ahead of time and note your turns: go 3 blocks on A, turn right, walk 8 blocks til B street, etc. (I find it a little embarrassing anyway to have Google talking to me loudly from my pocket lol.)


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